QT Reference File or QT Self Contained, Lossless?

I have a project on a timeline that I want to export as lossless. It was shot and editied at 1440 x 1080i HDV.
Should I export it as a Quicktime File (Self Contained) or a QT Reference File?
Which will give me a Lossless file?
What settings should I use when I go to File ------ Export ------ Quicktime?
Current Settings?
Thanks in advance.
FCP 7
Mac Pro
Intel Xeon
10 GB RAM

Both self-contained or reference will give you the same quality.
I use self-contained most of the time as Compressor seems happier with them and I have lots of space on hard drives.
x

Similar Messages

Mov. file is not self contained

I put together several clips and using FCP 7 I used "Export" to "Quick Time movie", thinking that it would contain all the clips plus the editing (transitions, titles, audio)
I then proceeded to delete all the intermediate files created during the editing.
When I attemopted to play the .mov file (or also trying to load into FCP) it began trying to collect some intermediate files, such as files created during the rendering. It could not play the movie because the intrmediate files were missing, of course.
I don't understand why the mov file is not a complete, self contained of the video I created.

When you export a QuickTime Movie from FCP (File->Export->QuickTime Movie) you must check the box indicating to make the file "self-contained." If that box isn't checked, it makes a reference movie. Reference movies only contain pointers to where the actual media (clips and render files) reside on your system.
-DH

Store file as Self-Contained QT or not?

I have many videos that have been edited with a lower 3rd added. I am not sure if the final delivery of this will be via DVD or the web. This decision may not come for many months. I need to save these files in a way that will make it as easy as possible to later come back and bring them into compressor to make a .m2v or a web video file.
1. Is it a good idea to save it as a self-contained file at this time?
2. Is FCP or Compressor the better program for compressing video for the web?
Thanks!

Self-contained is a good choice only if you cannot keep your source materials. A self contained QT is flattened and cannot be edited if your client wants changes (inevitable).
If you must make a self-contained QT, make sure it is of the highest quality. I would recommend 8-Bit Uncompressed so that your graphics render crisp (especially if your sequence is DV-NTSC). Or you might try the new ProRes 422 compressor.
Compressor is the better choice (especially with Studio 2) when making your web or .m2v files. Making self-contained QT files can be done easily in FCP.

"self-contained"?

When you export your movie what exactly does the "self-contained" check box mean?

"self-contained" means that the resulting movie file will contain all necessary media: rendered video and audio. So you can move this file to any external disk or computer without losing any part of your movie.
The minus of this approach is that it takes much longer to export (depending on the movie length) and much more disk space since the FCE media are copied into the movie file.
With a reference movie (if not self-contained) the export is fast and the movie files is small. But the media files are still in the FCE Documents folder: you'd better not to modify your FCE project before you use (e.g. burn) the exported reference movie.
Piero

Basic question... Mpeg2 vs Self-contained Quicktime?

Hello, I am kind of ashamed to post this question only now but nothing is
losf for asking...!
I have so far made dvds with a Quicktime mov. file, which is
Self-contained movies exported from Final cut, believing that it is the only way.
But actually there is Mpeg2! with options to choose mbps ect.
I have noticed that the color of dvds are slightly different; Mpeg2 has
more deepness while Quicktime mov. less. But other than that,
it doesn't seem problematic.
Must we use always Mpeg2 or can se use self-contained Quicktime files as well?
Still on an elementary level,
Thank you!!
Minobu

Better to encode as m2v outside of DVD SP and not bring in a .mov
Some reasons
Compressor movie
Calculating encoding rates

QT Movie or QT Reference File. Which is lossless?

Hi,
I have a project on a timeline that I want to export as lossless. It was shot and editied at 1440 x 1080i HDV.
Should I export it as a Quicktime File (Self Contained) or a QT Reference File?
Which will give me a Lossless file?
What settings should I use when I go to File ------ Export ------ Quicktime?
Current Settings?
Thanks in advance.
FCP 7
Mac Pro
Intel Xeon
10 GB RAM

Which will give me a Lossless file?
Neither. If the video was recorded in HDV, imported/captured as HDV, and edited as HDV, then the resulting QT file will also be HDV (unless you re-render it) which is not a "lossless" codec. A "standalone" file simply contains all data within your output file container. Instead, a "reference" file contains a combination of "pointers" to data that is contained in the raw captured file and rendered data created during your editing process. "References" file are much smaller and faster to write but require both the "reference" file and the "resource" file be available for use. (I.e., you cannot create a "reference" file and sent it to someone else as an independently playable file.)
If you are using the term "lossless" in the sense of "unmodified," then it makse no difference since the same data is "copied" or "resourced" to both types of file whether it is the raw source data or the rendered data created by your edits within the project.

Self-contained movie asking for source files

I have exported a final cut pro movie as a self-contained file, and after I deleted the source files, as my harddrive was jammed full, I am unable to burn the project onto a dvd. The file won't open in quicktime or final cut pro. It keeps asking for a source file to continue - HELP! It was a two hour movie that I am to be burning for XMas, and it has slipped out of my computer apparently. It was opening on its own without my harddrive connected before I deleted the source files, so I KNOW it was self-contained which is the only reason I deleted the files in the first place! Thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

This is not a new problem. I have encountered it through many versions of QuickTime.
Typically, it happens after I assemble a compilation of clips from various sources, including imported Windows Media files. I diligently check the "Save as a self-contained movie" option, which always indicates a file size larger than the "Save as reference movie" option -- for example, 1.7 MB vs. only 9.2 KB for a short clip. And yet, if I have discarded the original clip, QuickTime is unable to play some of the supposedly self-contained movies because it can't find the deleted source files. It's kind of maddening, especially when there's no way to recover the original clips.
I haven't tracked this, but I suspect it might happen when a clip in one format is pasted into a movie without first converting it to QuickTime. Has anyone else noticed this possibility and tested it?

Missing sequence in self-contained movie file.

Hello - this has happened several times, so I know better now, to save in a full quality file, however, when exporting, I specifically marked 'make movie self-contained', so that I can delete/trash files and make room for other projects. Cut to, thinking that I have a self-contained movie, I go to play it, and it gives me the dreaded 'sequence missing' msg... Like I said, I know that I specifically make it self-contained, but then when I go back to it after all the pertaining files have been deleted, it doesn't play. I would think that this would be the case if I only made it a reference file, but I did indeed make then 'sefl-contained' files. Thank you...

Hello - thank you for your input... I am going on memory from this, as I just got this 'missing sequence error msg.', but, I believe I may indeed have put in/out markers in the sequence, in the timeline... why does that effect it though?
And the reason I know I didn't delete anything before exporting is because the self-contained file I made worked just fine at the time after I made it. It wasn't until after I deleted the project, because I was finished with it, and needed to make space, which is what I meant by 'deleted pertaining to files'. Then later I would go back & try opening up the self-contained file, and got the error msg.
At the time, it seemed like everything was rendered properly, but how can that be checked?
Thanks...

Files in MOV-Container missing, although MOV is self-containing

Hello everybody,
I've got a strange problem here. We are capturing MPEG4-Files with a camera and cutting those files with quicktime pro (so that we don't have do re-encode those files in order to gain time). The files consist of a few MPEG4-Movie-Sequences (that are copy/pasted from the original files) and a small Signation-MPEG4 from the harddisk. Then the files are saved as self-contained quicktime-files and transfered to another computer.
But a few files will not contain the signation, although the moviefiles from the camera are in the container.
Is there a difference in Quicktime if a file is added by drag'n'drop, by "Insert" or "add to movie"?
I can't reproduce the problem (it comes up on a Mac and on Win with Quicktime 7.1.3) and it scares me
Thank you very much, i would appreciate your help.
ruby77
Powerbook G4 Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Could it be a solution that the file is - during editing the video - "Saved As" a self containing movie... But afterwards, when the last file is insertet and when the video is finished just "Saved". Maybe if you save a video through "Save" (and not "Save as"), for new, added files just the references will be saved in a self contained-video.
Your thoughts?

FCP project not rendering well as self contained QT file

G-4 (late model) 800Mhz,1GB SDRAM, 34 gig of space left, OS 10.3, FCP 4.0.1 LiveType 1.0.1 and Quicktime 6.4
Trying to render my little 15 second project as a self contained QT File so I can send it to a place, over HS internet, to be used as a full quality production over their in-house system. Looks like you must use compressor to do this but set at uncompressed. The anamorphic final piece looks sqwished. Did I miss a setting someplace? Also, it looks pixalated.Using the Quicktime movie standard setting is not responding to the self contained setting. It is not self contained. Any suggestions?
Thanks, Sid Coleman

#3 output lossless DV
Shane's Stock Answer #3:
To export your DV project so there is no loss in quality, simply go to the File Menu and select EXPORT>QUICKTIME MOVIE. Not Quicktime Conversion, fot this will compress the footage. Make sure the settings match your timeline settings, make it self contained and you are set.
If it is anamorphic, then you need to adjust the dimensions by multiplying by 1.33. So 720 will be 960. 960x480.
Shane

Broken Self-Contained Files? Is This Possible?

I have a folder where I archive a lof of self-contained FCP exports. The drive has been turned off for several months and upon using it today I discovered my self-contained exports are missing elements. Is this even possible? A lot of files are playing back the audio but missing the video. Or... They play some of the video but not others parts of the video. So strange. Have my files become corrupt? Anyone seen this before. I'm certain they were self-contained FCP exports. FYI/ I'm not getting the searching for XYZ-render-file, etc etc message that occurs when one is missing reference files to a non-self-contained QT clip.

Ha ha. Very funny. You know though... I'm beginning to question things b/c why is it that it's playing the majority of the video (both audio and video) but only has video dropouts in certain parts? You might say it can find the referenced files for the parts that play however it's on a drive with no other content on it. So weird. Anyone seen anything like this?

Self contained or reference movies

hi there guys
wondering if someone with more knowledge on this subject can help.
im producing 500 copies of a film i did of a band in final cut pro studio which is being exported to idvd. ive made up a cool menu with chapter markers and bonus features and all seems to work ok, apart from tonight...!
i had my film stall half way through and started to get worried! im basically making all these copies through my new macbook pro and my intel mac and was wondering if anyone knows what is the best means of putting your film to idvd for final presentation?
i have to admit ive always used reference files to final cut as opposed to the main self-contained file and its served me well in the past but was hoping to hear other views. i didnt think there was any difference in the final outcome to be honest.
i realise it may just be a duff DVD but thought i would check from folk who know better.
thanks very much
matty

Ditto to the excellent advice already posted above.
the idvd project i did is in best performance but i want to change it to best quality for burning - i take it you can do this at any time by changing the project prefs??
If i'm not mistaken, the iDVD project will have to re encode if you opt to switch between these compression modes which is time consuming.
If I were doing this I'd take Fred's advice and out source the burning. If it were under 50 copies I'd use at least 2 burners from a disc image and lower the burn speed to 2x in Toast / Apple's Disc Utilities.

How to get self-contained .mov files without FCE opening up?

Hi all experts,
I have fully rendered my first file, which is a simple text animation.
I did Export > QuickTime Movie. I am sure I tick the MAKE MOVIE SELF CONTAINED box.
When I quit FCE, I went to search for that .mov file. When I click at the file, FCE project file open up as well !!
If I copy this file for my friends, when they click at it, will they be able to see it if they do not have FCE ?
Thanks

David Harbsmeier wrote:
Sometimes it helps to change the 'opens with' info. Right-click on the file and choose 'Get Info.' In the "Opens With" box, change from FCE to QuikcTime Player.
-DH
Thanks David.
I really didn't know that there is such a thing. But hey, thanks for teaching me !!
Problem Solved.
Thanks again
Cheers

Will only export as a Self-Contained file

I am trying to export my project as a QuickTime movie that's not self-contained but even though I have the box unchecked it still writes all the video / audio to the file (making it GBs where it should be KBs). How do I fix this without reinstalling FCP?

Make sure that the Sequence you're attempting to export is fully rendered. If it isn't fully rendered, the export will create the needed render files, thus increasing the amount of time and the size of the files.
Look in the Sequence->Render menus and make sure that all render types have a check mark next to them BEFORE you export.
-DH

Using 'Save As' in a self contained file is dropping elements

Hi there,
I am finding with a fully self-contained Keynote file containing placed audio, movie and images, when you do a 'save as' it says there is a problem saving some elements in the file and they drop off. However if I duplicate the original file in the finder, then open in Keynote, delete and edit some pages and do a straight 'save' it works fine!
Any suggestions would be most helpful so I can go back to doing 'Save As' - the more intuitive method of working.
Thank you,
Josh

That is a typical behavior of Keynote 3 that disappeared with upgrade to Keynote 4 in my case.
The respective files were probably rather aliased to some place (i.e., the trash), than stored in toto in the Keynote file. Again a problem of Keynote 3 not carried over to Keynote 4.
On the other hand, Keynote 4 is much slower with large files, unfortunately.

QT Reference File or QT Self Contained, Lossless?

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